Curved-plate trimmer



w. H. BURKLKN I CURVED PLATE TRIMMER Filed March 26, 19 3 2 SheeQ.s-Sheet l w. H. BURKLIN CUR VED PLATE TRIMMER Filed March 26, 1923 2 Sheetw-Sheet 2 atented Novu l8, T241.

WILLIAM H. :eomtmn,

03: ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CURVED-PLATE TRIMMER.

Application filed March 26, 1923. SeriaI No. 627,614.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. BURKLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curved-Plate Trimmers, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. Y

My invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter particularly described and distinctly claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved machine for trimming the edges or ends of curved stereotype-plates, electrotype plates, and other printing-plates, more quickly, more efliciently, and at greatly decreased cost, in making them ready for the press.

In the drawings, I

Fig. l is an elevation of the cutter-end of a curved-plate trimming-machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan-view of the same, with parts in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section of a fragment of the plate-block, the section being taken on the line 8--3 of big. 2.

Fig. 4c is an enlarged detail elevation of the cutting-face of the beveled rotary-cutter, detached from its arbor; but shown in fragmentary form, and i Fig. 5 is a detail view of the plate-band lock.

The numeral 1 designates the vertical endframes or supporting-legs of the machine, having (in the present illustration) graceful and ornamental curved parts, although they would operate as supports if perfectly plain and angular in form.

The said end-frames 1 are provided with casters or rollers 2, to facilitate movement of the machine from place to place, as convenience may require.

The lower portions of said vertical endframes 1 are spaced apart by common horizontal tie-rods 3, and a horizontal table 4: surmounts the upper ends of said end-frames, and holds the same at a proper distance apart. Said endframes 1, and said table or top 4;, are preferably made of cast-iron or other metal, although of course they may be made of hard wood or any other suitable material.

A semicylindrical plate-block or curved base-plate 5 is mounted upon and fixed to the top of the frame, preferably as shown in Fig. 1, where it appears above the said top a.

Said curved plate-block 5 is preferably made of cast iron or cast-steel, in the form of a shell, so that it will be comparatively light. and it has a length considerably greater than that of the axial length of the largest printing-plate that is to be trimmed on the machine; whereby the machine will be adapted to trim long plates, as well as short or narrow curved plates.

The curvature of the face of said plate block 5 should be exactly the same as the curvature of the circumference of the press-cylinder (not shown) upon which the trimmed plates are to be mounted, in printing there from, as will be readily understood; the relative curvatures of the said plate-block and plates being shown in Fig. 1, wherein a printing-plate 6 is in place upon said block, ready to have its curved edge trimmed.

The outer face of the said plate-block 5 is preferably provided with numerous longit-udinal parallel corrugations, or is fluted, for a purpose presently mentioned; said corrugations formed by alternate parallel grooves 7 and ribs 8.

However, said grooves 7 and ribs 8 do not extend the full length of the plate-block face, and they preferably terminate before the cutter-endL of said block is reached, and they end there against a narrow curved smooth surface 9, upon which the curved edge of the plates to be trimmed rests, and is supported throughout the length of the edge to be trimmed; thereby affording a firmer support during the trimming operation, than if said corrugations were extended to the cutting end of the plate-block.

The purpose of the said corrugated face of said plate-block 5 is to lessen the surfacefriction (or contact surface) between the face of said block and the plate to be trimmed; so that the latter will rest only in contact with the said ribs 8, and may be moved and adjusted in any desired direction with greater case, before it is clamped in the desired position by the plate-band 10.

(in the present instance) being and thereby firmly held during the trinn'ning operation.

Furthermore, the said grooves 7 in the face of said plate-block 5 act as receptacles to receive and temporarily hold any chips or other obstructions which might accidentally get under the plate 6 and hold same in an improper position while being trimmed.

A small roller 11 is mounted on a pintle 12, projecting horizontally from the base of the said plate-block 5, at each side of the latter, to act as a temporary support for the adjacent edge of the plate 6, while the same is being adjusted toward and from the cutte-r-end of the plate-block, prior to locking the plate to the block by means of said plateband 10.

In adjusting said plate 6 longitudinally of said plate-block 5, previous to locking same down of course, one edge of the plate should be lifted clear of the block by the fingers of the operator, and the opposite edge may then be readily moved on the opp'ositely located roller 11 to the desired position, and then the raised edge should be dropped onto the block, and be clamped in position.

Theplate-band 10 is curved in semicircular-form, and extends over the plate 6 at some distance therefrom, and is provided at one end wit-h a suitable hinge 14:, by means of which that end is pivotally-ronnected to the top 4: of the machine, so that the band may be swung upwardly and downwardly, away from and towards the plate to be clamped in place, to release and fasten the plate very quickly, as may be required.

Said plate-band 10 is provided with a strengthening-rib 15 for an obvious purpose.

,A plate-band lock is provided at the end of said plate-band that is opposite its hinged end, and such lock comprises (in the present case) a hook or beveled-head 16, that engages and springs beneath the edge of the to'p'l, when said band is thrown down to a locking-position, Fig. 5, there being a recess 17 cut in the adjacent edge of said top to receive the said spring-head, and permitsame to pass up and down, in looking and unlocking.

A. suitable handle 18 is mounted on said spring-heads shank, the upper portion of which latter is secured to the band 10 by means of rivets 19 or other proper fastenings.

Clamping-screws 2.0, having a suitable cross-bar handle, or other means for turning them, are threaded through bosses 21 on the back of said plate-band 10, and have the usual pressure-jaw 22 pivotally-inounted on their inner ends, for clamping down the plate 6, and securely holding same against movement during the trimming operation.

A suitable cushion 23, of felt, leather or other soft material, is placed between the pressure-jaws 22 of said clamping-screws 20 and the plate 6, to prevent any possible damage to the latter, when said screws are tightened up. 7

Adjustable stops 24, against which the inner edge of the plate 6 rests in adjusting the latter, are mounted to be moved back and forth longitudinally on the face of the said plate-block 5 by means of suitable feedscrews and other appliances now to be described in detail.

A plurality of said adjustable plate-stops 2d are made use of; there being in the present case two of them arranged to be moved either independently of each other, or simultaneously, as may be necessary or desirable, in adjusting the plate before finally clamping same in place for a cut, or in moving it for the purpose of making additional. cuts or trims.

Said plate-stops 24 are T-shaped in form, and are mounted with the undersurface of their heads in contact with two a'djace'iit plate-block ribs 8, as shown more clearly in Fig. 8, while their teet or inner flanged-ends are mounted to slide freely in longitudinal grooves, 25, formed in said plate-block 5.

Each of said plate-stops 24- has a feed screw 26 which is threaded through the body of said stops, and extends beyond the feedscrew end of the plate-block 5, passes loosely through a bearing in a feed-screw cross-head 27, and has a. hand-wheel 28 or other means by which it may be revolved, fixed upon its outer end. Fig. 2. Said feed-screws 26 are located in -.1pp'opriate ones of previously mentioned plate-block grooves 7, so that the are in a plane below the faces of said platebloelt-ribs 8, and do not interfere with the free movement of the plates that are to be clamped upon said plate-block.

(lon'nnon shoulders or collars 29 are fixed upon said feed-screws 26 on either side of said cross-head 27, to prevent axial movement of said screws in the latter.

Said cross-head 27 is mounted loosely at the center of its length upon a master (or main) feed-screw 30, the inner portion of which is threaded into a bearing formed in the adjacent end or head of the said plateblock 5.

Said master feed-screw 30 extends outwardly beyond the outer face of said crosshead 27, and has a hand-wheel 31 or some other appropriate form of handle fixed upon it, for revolving said screw.

Common shoulders or collars 32 are tixcd upon said master feed-screw 30, on opposite sides or faces of said cross-head, to prevent. axial movement of said screw in the latter, so that when said screw is revolved by means of its hand-wheel 81, the cross-head 27 will be correspondingly moved out or in, and carry both of the said plate-stop feed-serous 26 and their stops 24 sii'nultane'ously with it.

The cutting and sawmy devices.

The cutting and sawing devices of the machine comprise a rotary-cutter and a circular-saw 34-, both driven by an electricmotor 35 preferably, although of course any Jun liih

til

other suitable source of power may be made use of, where it is not convenient to install an electric-motor.

Said cutter 33 is, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, provided with a beveled cutting-face having spiral cutting-teeth 36, for making the wellknown draw-cut; although a common saw-tooth cutter that is beveled on one side, may be used if desired.

The reason for using a beveled-face cutter is to make a beveled-edge or end on the printing-plates, to fit the wel -known beveled rings of the printingpress cylinders.

When the edge or end of a printing-plate is to be cut or trimmed with a square cut, the said circular-saw 34: is used.

A horizontal drive-shaft 37 is mounted in bearings 38, and extends longitudinally and axially beneath the said plate-block 5, and has its ends or extensions projecting a dis tance beyond the ends of said plate-block. Fig. 2. l i

The electric-motor is mounted, in the present arrangement, on a suitable platform or other support 39 that extends between said 'frame tie-rods 3, and a suitable endlessbelt 40 conveys power-from said belt-pulley 41 on the motor-shaft 42 to another pulley 43 that is fixed on said drive-shatt 37. Fig. 1.

The arrangement just described makes the machine entirely self-contained and port able, and capable o't being opera-ted by merely placing the plug of the motor feedconductors or flexible electric-cord or cable in any ordinary electric-lighting or lan1psocket. Such electric-connections being well known, are not illustrated in the drawings.

A swinging cutter-frame 44, has its inner end provided with bearings 45 which are loosely mounted upon the projecting end of said drive-shaft 37 that is adjacent the cut ting-end oi the machine, and a cutterspindle or arbor 46 is mounted in bearings 47 at the outer end of said cutter-frame, so that the said cutter 33 that is secured upon said cutter-spindle by the usual means, may be swung in a curved or circular path back and forth acrossand in contact with the curved edge of the plate 6 to be trimmed, while the latter is clamped in position upon said plate-block 5, in the manner and by the clan'iping-devices previously described.

A suitable handle 48 is conveniently attached to the outer portion of the said swinging cutter-frame .41, to be grasped by the opera-tor in manipulating the cutter-frame.

Said cutter-spindle and its cutter 33 are driven, in the present case, by means of a common silent sprocket-chain 49 or other suitable endless-belt device, which runs over a sprocket-wheel 50 on said drive-shaft 37, and engages another sprocket-wheel or pinion 51 carried by the said cutter-spindle 4:6.

A stop-lug 52 on the inner bearing 45 of said swinging cutter-frame 44, engages another stop-lug 53 that projects from the adjacent drive-shaft bearing 38 in the path 01' said first-mentioned stop-lug, and limits the swinging movement of said frame in both directions; and when the cutter-frame is atv rest, ready to begin a cut, (in which position it is shown) the said contacting stoplugs support said cutter-frame in a substan tially horizontal position, and prevent same from gravitating to a vertical position, which it might otherwise assume, were said stop-lugs not provided. In other words, said stop-lugs 52 and 53 support the said cutter-frame in a most convenient position when at rest, with its handle 48 easily within reach of the operator, without his stooping to reach the same.

A common form of guard 54 is suitably mounted on said swinging cutter-frame to extend over and around the parts of said cutter 33 that would otherwise be exposed to the operators hands, to prevent accidents; and yet said guard does not obstruct the operators clear view of the cutting portion of said cutter, or of the work, while the cutter is at work trimming a plate, and the operator can therefore see and control the depth of out being made, at any part of the radial swinging-movement of said cutterirame and cutter.

A chip-hopper 55 is located directly below the path oi the said cutter 33, being large enough to extend completely across the machine, and catch the chips or cuttings as they fall from the trimmed plate 6; the metal of which printing-plates are composed being quite valuable, and considerable loss is effected by saving said chips.

A spout 56 extends from said chip-hopper 55 to a point above a pan'or receptacle 57 that is located beneath said spout or chute, so that the chips may be removed from said pan from time to time, and remelted and used over in making plates.

A saw-table 58, having the usual and wellknown parallel gauge-lines upon its upper surface, is located horizontally at the end of the machine that is opposite the cutter-end thereof, and a common circular-saw 34 is mounted on a saw-arbor or saw-clamping device that forms an extension of the said drive-shaft 37 beneath said saw-table.

Said circular-saw 34. extends upwardly through the usual slot (30 in said saw-table, and any common form of saw-guard 61 extends over the exposed teeth of said saw, to prevent accidental cutting of the operators hands or fingers.

A saw-table gauge 62 is'adjustably mounted on said. saw-table 58, and is adapted to be set thereon, as required, for making a wide or narrow detachment from the straight edge or edges of the curved (or any other form be (as shown in Fig. 2) placed upon the apex of the said plate-block 5 to guide the operator in setting the plates 6 thereon, in oi'der that the plates may be trimmed to the desired size by the cutter 33.

' An electric push-button switch 66 is mounted on the cutter-end of the machine, in the path of the inner bearing 47 f the swinging cutterframe 44, to automatically cut off the current to the said motor 35, and stop the cutter at the end of its cutting strokes, so that the said swinging-frame be retracted to begin another cutting stroke, whilethecutter is at rest.

This forms an automatic stop-switch, to prevent possible accidental damage to the platerloeing trimmed, in case the operator ina dvertently feeds the plate forward before the cutterhas been returned to its normal position, which is that in which it is shown, and whereit is ready to begin a cut.

' However, short-stroke cuts can be made without stopping the cutter between cuts; but the operator will have to be very careful in moving the cutter against the plateedge'in the same direction the teeth thereof are moving, else the cutter will grip the plate, and'feed itself too fast, and'thereby be choked and stopped or possibly damage the plate.

Said automatic stop-switch 66 is, in the present form, provided with the well-known push loutton 67, which will break the motorcircuit when contacted and pushed by the said swinging cutter-frame bearing 47, and

will hold said circuit open and stop said motor 35 until again pushed, when the motor will be again set in motion.

The operation.

The operation of my invention will be readily apparent to skilled workmen, without further description.

'However, I may make it a little clearer by stating that the plate 6, which is to be trimmed, is placed in position upon plate "block of the machine, and adjusted thereon by manipulating the feed-screws 26 and 3 0 by means of their hand-wheels 28 and 31,

"the switch button 67, or by closing any other common form of switch in the motor-circult (not shown).

Then the operator grasps the handle 48 of the swinging cutter-frame l t, and swings the said frame upwardly from the position in which it is shown, until the cutting-teeth 36 of the cutter 33 are brought into contact with the adjacent projecting curved edgeor end of the clamped plate; and then the movement of said frame is continued until said cutter trims the full length (or any desired part) of said plate edge, and nears the limit of its cutting stroke at the opposite side of the machine, and has passed off of said plate, when the bearing 47 of the cutterframe will descend upon the said push button 67 of the switch 66, and stop the motor, and the cutter-frame will be stopped, and will rest at the limit of the stroke, by reason of said stop-lug 52 (on the inner bearing of said frame) coming in contact with the other stop-lug that is fixed upon the adjacent drive-shaft bearing 38.

To make another cut, the swinging cutterframe should be returned to its normal position; then the plate 6 should be adjusted (or fed) across the said smooth supportingsurface 9 of said plate-block a sufiicient distance to afford the desired out; then the motor should be again started by pressing said switch-button 67, and the previously-described radial movement of said cutterframe should be repeated, to bring the teeth of the cutter again into cutting contact with the projected edge of said plate, and so on, until the proper trimming of the plate has been accomplished satisfactorily.

It is sometimes desirable to feed said plate 6 more, or entirely, at one side; and in that case one or the other of the adjustable platestops 24k should be moved against or away from the inner edge of the plate, by turning the feed-screw hand-wheels 28 in the desired direction, the said plate being first released on one side by loosening the proper one of the plate-band clamping-screws 20, which should be again tightened when a cut is to be made.

To feed the plate 6 bodily and evenly throughout its curved edge which is to be trimmed, when a out along the entire edge is desired to be made, it will only be necessary to turn the master feed-screw by means of its hand-wheel 31, and thereby simultaneously more the feed-screw cross-head 27 and both of the plate-stops 24 a like distance, thus feeding said plate bodily to aid the cutter.

lVhen it is desired to remove some material from the straight edge or edges of the plate 6, as is necessary when the plate is too large circumferentially, the circular-saw 3 1 may be readily and conveniently used. The saw-table is stationary, and the work to be trimmed is moved thereon by hand in the usual. manner.

I do not limit myself to the exact form of Ill) parts shown in the drawings, as it is ob- \'.lOl1S that same may be changed by skilled mechanics, and the changes made by them, it within the scope of my invention and claims, will be merely a modification of my invention. For instance, any other form of teeth may be used upon the cutter 38, and said teeth may be spiral or slanting as herein shown, or they may be radial only; although I prefer the form of teeth shown, as such produces a smooth draw-cut, that would be impossible with teeth whose cutting-edges are in strict radial lines.

I claim l. A machine for trimming the curved edges of printing-plates, comprising a suitable supporting-frame; a semi-cylindrical plate-block mounted on said frame; a driveshatt mounted axially of said plate-block and having one of its ends extended beyond the cutting-end of said block; a radiallyswinging cutter-frame having its inner end mounted loosely to rock on said extended end of said drive-shaft; a cutter mounted at the outer end of said cutter-frame, and arranged to have its teeth brought into contact with the curved edge of the plate to be trimmed, upon radially moving said cutterttrame adjacent said edge; means for adjusting and clamping said plate upon the said plate-block; means for rotating said cutter while same is being moved in contact with the curved edge of the plate to be trimmed, a circular-saw mounted on the end of said drive-shaft which is opposite that on which said radiallyswinging cutter-frame is mounted; and a saw-table tor said circular-saw.

2. A machine for trimming the curved edges of printing-plates, comprising a suit.- able supporting-"frame; a semi-cylindrical plate-block mounted on said frame; a driveshaft mounted axially of said plate-block and having one of its ends extended beyond the cutting-end of said block: a radiallyswinging cutter-frame having its inner end mounted loosely to rock on said extended end of said drive-shaft; a cutter mounted at the outer end of said cutterframe, and arranged to have its teeth brought into contact with the curved edge ot the plate to be trimmed, upon radially moving said cutter frame adjacent s d edge; means for adjusting and clamping said plate upon the said plate-blockg means for rotating said cutter while same is being moved in contact with the curved edge of the plate to be trimmed, said semi-cylindrical plate-block being constructed with alternate longitudinal ribs and grooves upon its outer face, abutting a smooth supporting-surface located at the cutter-end of said plate-block.

8. A machine for trimming the curved edges of pr nting-plates, comprising a suitable supporting-frame; a semi-cy1indrical plate-block mounted on said frame; a drive shaft mounted axially of said plate-block and having one of its ends extended beyond. the cutting-end of said block; a radially-swinging cutter-frame having its inner end mounted loosely to rock on said extended 0nd of said drive-shaft; a cutter mounted at the outer end of said cutterframe, and arranged to have its teeth brought into contact with the curved edge of the plate to be trimmed, upon radially moving said cuttenframe adjacent said edge; means for adjusting and clamping said plate upon the said plate-block; means for rotating said cutter while same is being;

moved in. contact with the curved edge of the plate to be trimi'ned, means for adjusting the plate to be trimmed upon said platehloclr, consisting of adjustable plate-stops wh ch engage the curved edge of the said. plate which is opposite the end or edge that is being trimmed by said cutter, and feedscrews arranged to move said plate-stops separately or simultaneously.

4. A machine for trimming the curved edges of printing-plates, comprising a suitable supporting-trame; a semi-cylindrical plate-block mounted on said frame; a driveshaft mounted axially of said plate-block and having one of its ends extended beyond the cutting-end of said block; a radially-swinging cutter-frame having its inner end mountcd loosely to rock on said extended end of said drive-shaft; a cutter mounted at the outer end of said cutter-frame, and arranged to have its teeth brought into contact with the curved edge of the plate to be trimmed, upon radially moving sa d cutter-frame adjacent said edge; means for adjusting and clamping said plate upon the said plateblock; means for rotating said cutter while same is being moved in contact with the curved edge of the plate to be trimmed; means for clamping the plate to be trimmed upon said plate-block, consisting of a curved plateband hinged at one end and extending above and across said plate-block; a spring locking-head at the free end of said band, arranged to engage a part of the machine and lock said band in a clamping position above the plate to be clamped; in combination with a handle for operating said locl ing-head and lifting the band, and clamp ing-screws threaded through said band and carrying clamping-jaws on their inner ends, for holding said plate in pos tion upon said plate-block.

5. A machine for trimming the curved edges of printing-plates, comprising a suitable supporting-frame; a semi-cylindrical plate-block mounted. on said frame; a driveshatt mounted axially of said plate-block and having one of its ends extended beyond the cutting-end of said block: a radiallyswinging cutter-frame having its inner end niountedloosely to rock on said extended end of said drive-shaft; a cutter mounted at the outer end of said cutter-frame, and arranged to have its teeth brought into contact with the curved edge of the plate to be trimmed; upon radially moving said cutterframe adjacent said edge; means for adjusting and clamping said plate upon the said plate-block; means for rotating said cutter While same is being moved in contact With the curved edge of the plate to be trimmed, and stop-lugs for stopping and supporting the said radially-swinging cutter-frame at the limits of its movement in both directions.

6. A machine for trimming the curved edges of printingplates, comprising a suitable' supporting-irame; a semi-cylindrical plate bldck mounted on said frame; a drivesliaft mounted axially of said plate-block and having one of its ends extended beyond cutting-end of said block; a radially- Swingin cutter-frame having its inner end mounted. loosely to rock on said extended end of said drive-shaft; a cutter mounted at the outer end of said cutter-fran'ie, and arranged to have its teeth brought into contact With the curved edge of the plate to be trimmed, upon radially moving said cutterframe adjacent said edge; means for adjusting and clamping said plate upon the said plate-block; means for rotating said cutter while same is being moved in contact with. the curved edge of the plate to be trimmed,

and an automatic electric slop-switch hav- 1 ing a member located in the path of said radially-swinging cutter-frame, to stop the retation of said cutter at the end of the movement of said cutterframe.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

lVILLIAM H. BURKLIN. lNitnesses:

JOHN C. HIGDON, HENRY L. HIGDON. 

